Alloy Wheel straightening - Safe?

[Martin-Sy]

I took the car (Seat Leon ST 2014) in for some now tyres and tracking to the local tyre place.
The guy called me over to the balancing machine and demonstrated that the inside rim of the nearside front was distorted.
He suspected that it was pot hole damage.
It had not lost pressure so the seal was OK.
He said that they could straighten it and I said go ahead.
But afterwards I wondered if this was a common procedure and if it is safe?

 

[Nomad]

No comments about straightening but alloys on the rear of some BMWs (year 2005 on, 3 series etc fitted with ultra-low profile tyres) are famous / infamous for cracking due to potholes.
Welding the cracks used to be a common repair, since getting mine done I've been told any damage or cracks has been classed as an mot fail for several years.
I've not confirmed so best check yourself...

 

[MysterG]

We had a front alloy wheel on a fiesta straightened a few years ago.
Was basically flat one side, obviously pothole damage.
Only found out about when we had new tyres fitted and the bloke doing it noticed.

Was done by a company that refurbs alloys, so as the experts I trusted them to only do it if it was safe to do so.

 

[BrokenBiker]

When I did my welding course 15 years ago the guys son had a business welding, straightening and painting alloys...made a lot of money off it and never had any complaining customers

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I had a wheel straightened on my 8
XK8, no problems since, 10 years on.

 

[Farside]

I'm going to get mine straightened, just to keep a set of four alikes. I won't bother fitting them though, as the necessary 15" x 50 tyres are unsuitable for the potholed roads around here.

 

[Morrisman]

Where I lived in the Philippines there was a local guy repairing alloy wheels. Oxy-acetylene for heat, strips sawn from old window frames for filler rod. Some sort of flux to help it along…

I saw him fix up several well damaged wheels ‘successfully’.

He would even weld up the stud holes, and redrill, to change stud patterns.

 

[Martin-Sy]

Thanks for the replies all. It had not long had its MOT and I think the damage must have been done before that.
I guess it would not be that obvious with the wheel in-situ.
Main dealer says £542 for a new one.

 

[charlysays]

If it's not leaking and was drive able before then it should be able to be straightened. They heat it up and use a sort of press with a half moon die to push the bend out. I had a wheel like this straightened on my Merc and it's been fine for years now. If it had cracked then I'd probably think about replacing it but minor buckles shouldn't be an issue for a specialist to put right.

 

[premmington]

Thanks for the replies all. It had not long had its MOT and I think the damage must have been done before that.
I guess it would not be that obvious with the wheel in-situ.
Main dealer says £542 for a new one.

Seat Leon ST 2014 - would not have been a cheap car when new - £2168 quid for a set of wheels don't seem dear to me - for OE spec ones from the dealer...